Support quality, independent, local journalism…that matters

From just £1 a month you can help fund our work – and use our website without adverts. Become a member today

Plaid Cymru continued its run of form in Caerphilly on Thursday with a double victory in two council by-elections.

Voters chose Plaid candidate Jeff Grenfell to be the new representative of the Van ward on Caerphilly County Borough Council, ahead of Reform UK in second.

And in a Van Community Council election, Alison Vyas won the seat for Plaid and will represent the Porset ward.

Cllr Grenfell said he was “very proud to be elected by the residents of Van ward” after running “a positive campaign focusing on what we can do and who we are as people in our communities”.

“Many people are unhappy with the performance of our council services and how our council tax is spent,” he said. “I hope to represent all residents of the Van ward as best I can and will welcome discussions and ideas from as many community groups as possible.”

He added: “It is, of course, tinged with sadness that we had to have the election at all due to the passing of Christine Forehead – a longstanding councillor who will be missed.”

Both by-elections were held following the death of Cllr Forehead, a Labour representative who passed away last November, aged 81.

The result is the latest win for Plaid in the Caerphilly area, following the election of Lindsay Whittle to the Senedd last autumn, and that of Cllr Aneurin Minton to replace him in the local authority’s Penyrheol ward shortly afterwards.

Cllr Grenfell’s victory means Plaid Cymru now holds 18 of the 69 seats in the Labour-controlled local authority.

After the Van ward result was declared, Cllr Charlotte Bishop, who leads the council’s Plaid group, said she “couldn’t be prouder” of both candidates.

“I’ve watched them both put the time in – the quiet conversations, the listening, the turning up when no cameras are there,” she said. “They don’t do this for recognition, and they don’t make grand promises. They do it because they genuinely care about people.”

Cllr Bishop said the pair have heart “in abundance” and “look after their communities the way family should – patiently, kindly, and with respect for every voice”.

Reflecting on recent results, she added it was the “third time in just four months that Plaid has beaten Reform”.

Labour, meanwhile, recorded an improved vote share compared with the recent Senedd and Penyrheol results, but council leader Cllr Jamie Pritchard was left to rue another defeat.

He said: “I congratulated new Plaid Cymru councillor Jeff Grenfell after the declaration.

“This was a fair and decently fought by-election campaign, as it should always be.

“Our candidate, Matt Ferris ran a positive campaign, and he will come again.”

On his party’s recent electoral fortunes, Cllr Pritchard added: “The Labour result reflects the national polling, which has been extremely bad for a long time.

“People all over the country are giving us a kicking, but we won’t be wallowing in pity.

“On a local level, we look forward to delivering a budget that invests in public services next week.”

The Van ward by-election results were as follows (vote share percentages are rounded down):

• Jeff Grenfell, Plaid Cymru – 374 votes (43% of total valid votes cast)
• Russell Larke, Reform UK – 246 votes (28%)
• Matthew Ferris, Welsh Labour – 231 votes (26%)
• Tony Potts, Welsh Liberal Democrats – 12 votes (1%)

The turnout at the by-election was 25.87% and one ballot paper was rejected.

The Porset ward by-election results for Van Community Council were as follows (vote share percentages are rounded down):

• Alison Vyas, Plaid Cymru – 234 votes (60% of total votes cast)
• John Kennedy, Reform UK – 141 votes (36%)

The turnout at the community council by-election was 23.89% and 15 ballot papers were  rejected.